Glance back, stare forward: CES and the big stories of 2009

There are still plenty of great stories coming out of last week's CES …

Gaming

It can be fascinating to walk the floor at CES as a game writer. While the gaming section of the show is a small, taped off section in the corner of one hall, many of the technologies shown could have a dramatic impact on the world of gaming.

3D technology was one of the best examples of this, as Nvidia showed off a now-available set of 3D glasses to impressed writers, using both Guitar Hero III and Left 4 Dead to great effect. Sony had its own proof-of-concept 3D display at its massive booth, showing how great games such as MotorStorm and Wipeout HD could look in three dimensions. Nearly every demo of any kind of 3D technology used some kind of gaming application to get the attention of the crowd. Whether any of these companies will be able to bring a mainstream 3D product to an audience ready to buy the still-expensive equipment is a question without an easy answer.

3D has been shown in some form or another since the beginning of CES; this year there has simply been another jump in quality with a slight cut in price. The technology isn't ready for prime time yet, but it's edging closer.

Gaming companies with a strong presence used it well. Mad Catz had a wonderful array of products at its own press suite, and the Street Fighter IV arcade sticks, mixed with the standard game pads with six face-buttons and much improved D-pads, impressed us on many levels. These controllers may have been designed for use with one fighting game, but the controls work just as well on Xbox Live Arcade games, as well as the classic titles available for the PS3. The company even included a switch allowing the stick to be used as any of the analog controls on a standard controller, making the products a versatile purchase. Hell, Capcom even showed off how the sticks can be modded with aftermarket buttons, although Mad Catz later warned us that doing so would void your warranty. Feelin' lucky?

The Rock Band equipment is also worth a mention: the Fender Bass was shown in wireless form with a better-feeling neck, and the foot pedal made activating over drive in Rock Band much easier without blowing your combo. Mad Catz is supporting both Rock Band and Street Fighter in a big way, and so far the products have proved out the commitment. Even flight stick fans were taken care of, with a tie-in product for Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. shown off.

Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos sat down with us to talk about Rock Band's future. Expect more on that soon

For the ultra hardcore, there was a $140 screen that could show multiple dials and displays in flight sims. Up to seven can be linked up, for an impressive $980 worth of in-flight information.

Displays also got a boost, with Sony showing off a new line of OLED televisions that sported ultra-thin designs and an almost surreal 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The OLED Association showed off a number of tech demos at its booth, including a bendable display that could change the way portables are designed. Can you imagine a foldable portable console with a foldable screen? Nintendo could re-invest the DS with no break between the top and bottom levels, although adding the touch capabilities could prove problematic.

Vuzix showed off its latest generation of wearable displays, including a great demo with augmented reality. A rep held a printed card that, when looked at through the glasses, showed a castle that you could walk around and view from any angle, in real time. It was amazing, and the picture's opacity could be adjusted on the fly. That meant you could be watching television while also viewing the world in front of you; the ultimate toy for slackers. There was no date or price on the new headsets, but we were very happy with what we saw with the pre-production models.

Last year, if you would have told me that Palm was the talk of CES, and Mad Catz would show off a $150 arcade stick that has been making the toughest critics drool... well, let's just say the hits came from odd places this year.